DeeDee's Star is on the Princess ready to quilt. The pieces--those are my green cake stand blocks. First I cut one piece 1/2" too small. I recut those pieces and redid my HST's. Laid them out--Hmmm. Now I've cut them 1/2" too big! They are waiting for me to trim them down. See what everyone is working on at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Quilt DeeDee's Star

Bind one quilt

Finish green cake stand blocks

Make green 30's blocks

Sew more Trip Around the World blocks together

That's more than enough for this week. Tomorrow we hope to set our camper up for the summer, I'm ready to start volunteering. Sunday we met Laura Beth and family--Mason, Nick, and Laura Beth went to the circus. Asher, Ken and I did a couple of errands and then to the park. But--Asher fell asleep on the way and instead he and Ken napped.

It was a beautiful day--the park was full of people. The weather forecast is for cooler weather, possibly SNOW FLURRIES later this week. Sheesh! This week I made some PVC Bluebird houses, I hope to get them set out tomorrow too. I know there are some bluebird couples looking for new quality housing! What are you doing this week?

Yippee--I have TWO finishes this week. 39 yards of stash used.Stash In This Week--0 yardsStash Out This Week--39 yardsStash In YTD--65.5Stash Out YTD--56.5 yardsStash is ahead--9 yards!!This week I finished my "Snowgate" quilt and one I've named "Ode to Vincent". The pattern is Swoon by Camille Roskelley. See everyone's stash report at Patchwork Times.

Ode To Vincent

Its hard to photograph--the blocks finish at 24" so its a big quilt. Here's different picture taken outside hanging off the deck--

How did I do with my goals?

Bind one quilt--two quilts done

Finish Cake Stand Blocks--no

30's Blocks for Rainbow Scrap Challenge--no

Load a top--yes

One yoyo center--no

I've been making bluebird houses out of PVC pipe. I better get them done and put up if I want any bluebirds to nest in them! We've been packing the camper, its parked out front and we'd like to get it set up for the year on Tuesday. Today we're going to meet Nick, Laura Beth and boys. They're taking Mason to the circus, and Ken and I are taking Asher to the park. At 18 months we doubt he'd enjoy the circus.

That will keep me busy.Ken and I spent the weekend in Mankato with Laura Beth, Nick, Mason and Asher. Mason and I frosted some "Lamingtons".

Lamingtons

Mason liked eating the coconut and chocolate sauce best--

Mason eating coconut with chocolate sauce

Mason always helps Grandma cook--

Making yellow split pea soup

We dyed Easter eggs--

Laura Beth and Mason with gloves on

The kit promised it would be "easy and mess free". Yeah--we didn't believe it either--Nick covered everything with several layers of newspapers. I don't think we dyed anything we weren't supposed to--our clothes, the table, Mason and Laura Beth were free from any extra dye.

Nick will be eating eggs all week. Three at lunch each day are plannedThere is a great carousel at the Mall in Mankato, Mason loves it and Asher, well--he looks solemn but I think he enjoyed it.

Nick and Asher

Mason and Laura Beth

Take a close look at the pictures. Asher is riding a goat and Mason a rabbit. I am crushed--what happened to HORSES you guys??!!

The roads were miserable driving home. A greater part of the trip had this view--

Following a snowplow

Visibility was poor at times

Lots of one path traffic on the interstate--frozen slush and blowing snow. We were so glad to get home.

All the blocks to the Scrappy Trip Around the World (done with controlled color repeats ala Carol) are made---

Some of the blocks need to be moved but I think the pattern is showing up quite well--what do you think?? It doesn't use any background fabric and you can make this entirely from stash so its a keeper for a pattern. See what everyone else has on their wall at Patchwork Times.

The last week I've been working sewing binding on the quilted tops.

I've added two more to the pile tonight--that makes seven.Weekly Goals--

Two crib sheets

Two bibs

Borders on DeeDee's Star (yes--I KNOW I've been procrastinating)

Load another top on the Princess

Play with Rainbow Scrappy Blocks--this month the color is GREEN

That's enough for this
week. Weatherman says we might have another winter
storm (BUMMER). I'm ready to pack the camper--but somehow the
snowbanks dampen my enthusiasm. Maybe in another week or so. Is spring
EVER going to arrive??

Additions to Stash this week. 16.5 yards of various blacks and oranges and a wide backing arrived. That brings my yearly numbers to--Stash In--16.5 yardsStash Out--0 yardsStash In YTD--65.5 yardsStash Out YTD--17.5 yardsStash is ahead--48 yards

The numbers look bleak you say? NAY!!! This week I machine sewed binding to 5 tops! They are ready for final hand stitching. One small quilt, and the rest are anywhere from 72" square to queen size. I have two more to sew the binding on while I have the extra table set up behind my DSM. The Stash numbers are heading the other way! See how everyone's done this week at Patchwork Times.This week we had a winter storm--rain, sleet, ice, and snow. We lost power for a few hours--Ken and I got out the propane heater, butane camp stove and antique kerosene lamp. Then we took showers before the water heater cooled off. (Can you tell we've done this before??) Power was restored in a couple of hours--but about 30 miles east of us it began to get worse. Much more freezing rain and lots of damage. The news says there are still some areas without power Saturday (4 days later). I hate the cold, I leaned out the door and took this picture the other morning--

See the snow pile? The snow was so wet and heavy our snowblower could not move it. Dan the tractor man plowed the snow by the vehicles.

Weatherman said another winter storm possible next week. I don't think I'll be working in the flower beds any time soon. One internet friend said it had been 74F and the air smelled wonderful. She said it smelled like SPRING! It smelled like spring here too. Spring is when everyone cleans their cow lots and hog barns! Its just part of life here and it doesn't last long. Soon we'll smell fresh dirt and newly mown hay.

Besides sewing on bindings this week I put together a yoyo block center and completed all the blocks to my Scrappy Trip Around the world. One binding made. Finished quilting Henrietta's 30s top and then I quilted Little Boxes. Didn't follow my goal list but did lots of sewing.

How was your week? Was the weather nice? Did you follow a list or were you distracted??

Its a Scrappy Trip Around the World (Quiltville.com) but I'm using a planned color repeat I saw on The Polka Dot Chicken blog. Thank you Carol! I'm planning on making mine 6X8--one more row at the top and two at the bottom. The color repeat is--blackred (and pink)blue (and purples)orangegreenyellowMy blocks are a bit too dark--I'm adding more lights to the last 18 blocks. I think they'll balance out. See everyone's Design Walls at Patchwork Times.While finding fabrics for this project, I refolded and sorted 5 fabric cubes. I can really tell the difference in my stash--what were stuffed cubes now have plenty of breathing room. Weekly Goals--

Quilt Henrietta's 30's top

Borders on DeeDee's Star

2 crib sheets

binding on one quilt

2 yoyo centers

trace 2 cherry tree blocks

I'm waiting for Ken to finish taxes--right now he's spread out on the big table that I use for some of my sewing. Another few days and that will be done.

More pictures from Sertoma Butterfly House--which is not all butterflies! Fish--all with steps along the tanks so kids could be eye to eye with the fish.

Sometimes I pose

Sometimes I'm shy

I may bring a friend

Or match the background

I might be famous!!

The fish were very popular with the kids. I sat and laughed and watched everyone "find Nemo". In all these pictures the plants/animals in the background ARE ALIVE!! The silvery white background behind Nemo waved and wiggled. I was fascinated! I didn't get pictures of them--but there were small manta rays in a large tank--there were steps all around it and kids were encouraged to reach in and touch them. (towels were furnished) There were also small sharks in another section--yes--the kids could touch them too. They were a non-biting shark and only about a foot long. My week is full, I'm not sure how much sewing I'll get done. Have you started a new project?

Raggy edge applique flower blocks on yellows from an online swap many years ago. Each flower was sliced into quarters and then randomly reassembled Leaves sewn on after the blocks were sewn together. I stalled on the borders--I need to miter them and its not a favorite method. But--I SHALL get them on this month. Perhaps pulling it out again will provoke spring weather. See everyone's design walls at Patcwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Last border on Little Boxes

Load another quilt

Trace two more Cherry Tree blocks

Sew one binding on SOMETHING

One yoyo center

Today is Ruby the Quilting Dog's birthday--she's 13 yo today. I've always wanted her to "play ball" but she looked at me like I was crazy. What a surprise a few days ago when I rolled the ball across the floor (yes, I'm still trying) and she brought it back. Twice. Maybe she's decided to humor me. I'm going to keep trying.

Do you do this? I have an online dictionary/thersaurus/quote bookmark on my toolbar. When I used the work "provoke" in my post--I first used "prompt". But it didn't sound quite right. Provoke--Verb--cause to happen, cause an action

Yes, I think "provoke" was a better choice. I'm influenced by my maternal grandmother (crosswords and scrabble) and my high school English teacher.